Building structure



1959 J. z. GELSAVAGE 2,918,992

BUILDING STRUCTURE Filed March 26, 1956 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 I N V EN TOR. Ja /v Z. 64 5/7 1446: B Y

Dec. 29, 1959 J, z, GELSAVAGE 2,918,992

BUILDING STRUCTURE Filed March 26, 1956 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 l N V EN TOR JO/m/ Z. 6:2 54 44 64' Dec. 29, 1959 J. z. GELSAVAGE BUILDING STRUCTURE 6 Sheets- Sheet 3 Filed March 26, 1956 v INVENTOR.

Jay/v Z. 6:154 Vfi6 Dec. 29, 1959 Filed March 26, 1956 J. Z. GELSAVAGE BUILDING STRUCTURE 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

Jaw/v z. GEZSAVHGI Mam ATTORNEYS Dec. 29, 1959 J. z. GELSAVAGE 2,918,992

BUILDING STRUCTURE Filed March 2a, 1956 s Sheets-Sheet 5 39 I I INVENTOR- JO/I/V Z 651:4!465 2% a PM ENTOR [7' Jmm/ 2. 6548010965 United States Patent BUILDING STRUCTURE John Z. Gelsavage, Detroit, Mich.

Application March 26, 1956, Serial No. 573,974

13 Claims. (Cl. 1892) This invention relates to improvements in wall structures and particularly to hollow structures such as are capable of use as buildings to house either persons or goods. This application is a continuation-in-part of my previously filed abandoned application Serial No. 282,- 025, filed April 12, 1952.

More particularly the invention relates to a concavoconvex wall structure or to a building of a dome-like or segment of a sphere shape. Instead of the structure comprising merely a segment of a sphere, a complete sphere may be built up as herein set forth. Structures of the character herein described are simple, sturdy, rugged and inexpensive to provide and to erect.

One important object is the provision of such a structure which is of light weight, and which consists of a plurality of generally similar sections that may be quickly assembled together to form the structure and quickly disassembled to dismantle the same.

Another important object is that the wall structure or building is formed completely of sections which may be fastened together to form a self-supporting structure without the employment of additional supporting frame work.

A further important object is that a building may be constructed of a plurality of similar pentagonal sections and a plurality of similar hexagonal sections, the pentagonal sections and hexagonal sections being in determined number and size relationship, and which sections may be assembled and secured together according to a determined pattern to form a concavo-convex wall structure or a hollow self-supporting dome-like structure possessing all of the desirable advantages herein set forth.

The pentagonal and hexagonal sections may be in the form of plates or blocks. When these sections are secured together to form the building they provide a self supporting dome-like structure of great strength and ruggedness. A very important consideration is that the dome-like structure formed from the sections does not require any supporting frame Work.

in one embodiment feature of the invention the pentagonal sections are built up of a plurality of similar triangular pieces which are secured together to form the pentagons and which pieces when disassembled may be nested together for convenience of storage and transportation. The hexagonal sections may likewise be built up of a plurality of similar triangular pieces which are fastened together to form the hexagons but which pieces when disassembled may be nested together for convenience of storage and transportation. Inasmuch as the pieces may be nested together, sufiicient pieces to erect a building of substantial size may be nested and stored in a small space.

The triangles which make up the pentagons and the triangles which make up the hexagons are each isosceles triangles. The bases of all these triangles are of equal length. However, the altitude, sides, and the included angles of the triangles which make up the pentagons 2,918,992 Patented Dec. 29, 1959 are different in size from the altitude, sides, and included angles of the triangles which make up the hexagons. A dome-like structure of the character herein illustrated may be built up complete from these two sets of triangular pieces. These triangular pieces may be first fastened together to form the pentagons and the hexagons. The pentagons and the hexagons are then fastened together to form a self-supporting hollow spherical segment or dome-shaped building structure. However, the structure may be also assembled by simply fastening the triangles together without regard to first assembling them into pentagons and hexagons.

In another embodiment of the invention the pentag onal and hexagonal sections are each formed of one piece of metal, with the sections so formed as to ex hibit a plurality of angularly related triangularly shaped faces. The pentagonal sections include five congruent isosceles triangularly shaped faces. The pentagonal sec tions are generally dish-shaped such that the vertices of the triangular faces lie substantially in the surface of an imaginary circumscribed spherical surface. The hexagonal sections each include six congruent isosceles triangular faces. The vertices of the angles of the triangular faces lie substantially in the surface of an imaginary circumscribed spherical surface. The pentagonal sections are of a character such that they may be nested when the structure is disassembled, as may be the hexagonal sections. r

In still another embodiment of the invention the struccure is formed of a plurality of generally diamond-shaped sections. One group of these sections is generally parallelogrammically shaped and includes two angularly related congruent triangular faces. The other group of diamond-shaped sections are generally trapezially shaped and each includes a pair of angularly related generally planar surfaces each of which is triangularly shaped, but with one triangle having a greater altitude than the other. The sections of these two groups are connected together at their edges in regular patterns such that the triangular faces of the pieces define regular pentagons and hexagons, with each pentagon surrounded by hexagons.

In the last of abovementioned embodiments the structure may be formed with a double wall. The outer wall is of the character described, i.e., the diamondshap'ed sections are formed of triangular angularly related faces. However, the bases of the triangular faces meet along the minor diagonal of the diamond shape such that the diamond appears to be bent along its minor diagonal. The inner wall is of a character generally similar to the outer wall except that the bases of the triangular faces m'e'et along the major diagonal of the. diamond-shaped sections such that the diamond appears bent along the major diagonal. Oppositely bent but otherwise similar sections are superimposed such that one dishes outwardly while the other dishes inwardly, and such superimposed sections are connected together and are connected at the margins to other similarly superimposed sections to form the double-wall structure. Similarly bent sections may be nested together when the structure is disassembled so that the sections may be stored in a relatively small space.

In still another embodiment of the invention the struck ture is formed "of a plurality of trapezoidally shaped sections each including three angularly related generally" planar faces. Two of the faces are congruent triangles while the third face is a triangle whose base is of equal length to each of the bases of the other two triangles but whose altitude is of a lesser length than the altitude of the other two triangular faces. The vertices of the triangular faces lie substantially in an imaginary circumscribed spherical surface.

A meritorious feature of the invention is that the sections from. which the structure is built, either the pentagonal or hexagonal sections when each is formed of a single piece of metal, or thetriangular sections, or the generally diamond-shaped sections, or the trapezoidally shaped sections, are provided with marginal flanges to provide means for readily connecting the sections together at their marginal edges. Some of these flanges may project outwardly of the structure while other of the flanges may project inwardly. When the flanges project outwardly, material locally available, such as sand, snow, or the like, may be placed over the section and held in place by such flanges to add warmth and insulation and protection to the outside of the building structure. As hereinafter descr bed, when the structure is formed from the diamond-shaped sections, or from the pentagonal and hexagonal sections each formed of one piece of metal, or when formed of the trapezoidally shaped sections, the outwardly proiecting flanges are disposed sufficiently far down from the top of the structure, that rain water or the like will readily run down the outer side wall and drip to the ground w thout leaking into the structure through the spaces between the meeting flanges of the sections.

In one embodiment of the invention the structure is provided with a raised pentagonal section at the top of the structure which provides for ventilat on and also aids in the prevention of rain water, or melting snow, or the like, from dripping into the interior of the structure.

Another obiect of the invention is the provis on of a novel foundation for a dome-shaped structure of the character herein disclosed.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of novel connecting means associated with the flanges of the sections, for hold ng the flanges in abutting relation throughout substantially their length and which aids in the prevention of the passage of rain water, melting snow, or the like, between the abutting flanges.

Dome-like structures of the character disclosed herein are particularly adapted for use by the armed forces because such structures may be quickly assembled or disassembled; when d sassembled, the sections can be superimposed and nested together within a minimum space for convenient transportation and storage; inasmuch as no frame is required, the sections plus the fastening devices constitute the only material which is necessary to fabricate a complete structure; the structure provides maximum enclosed space at minimum cost; and the structure is so formed that it may be readily supplemented with local material.

Other objects, advantages, and meritorious features of the structure will more fully appear from the following specification, claims, and accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a schematic illustration of the pattern of the arrangement of pentagons and hexagons employed to form a dome-like structure such as shown in Figs. 2, 4, 5, and 10;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a dome-like structure such as would be fabricated from the pentagons and hexagons shown in Fig. 1 with the addition of a door and a window therein;

Fig. 3 is an elevation of a triangular piece such as is employed in building up a pentagonal section;

. Fig. 4 is a top plan view looking down on a dome such as is shown in Figs. 2 and 5;

Fig.5 is a side elevation of the dome shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. -6 is a schematic plan of a pentagon showing the same as built up out of triangular pieces;

Fig. is a side elevation of the pentagon shown in Fig. 6 illustrating the dish-shaped contour thereof;

Fig. 8 is a schematic plan of a hexagon showing the same as built up out of triangular pieces;

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the hexagon shown in Fig. 8 illustrating the dish-shaped contour thereof;

Fig. 10 is an elevation of a spherical structure built up out of the pentagons and hexagons as herein described;

Fig. 11 is a plan of a triangular blank such as is used in making up the triangular pieces that compose the hexagonal sections;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary cross section through a dome built up as herein described but wherein the triangular pieces are relatively thick and are provided with insulating portions;

Fig. 13 is a plan of a blank provided to form the side portion of one of the triangular assemblies which make up the hexagons and pentagons that form the structure;

Fig. 14 is. a perspective of the several triangular pieces which make up the insulated triangular assembly;

Fig. 15 shows one means whereby the triangles are secured together to form a pentagon or hexagon.

Fig. 16 shows a fragment of a floor for a dome as illustrated in which the floor is fabricated from a plurality of triangles; v

Fig. 17 shows how a triangular piece may itself be built up out of a plurality of smaller triangles;

Fig. 18 is a perspective of one of such triangles;

Fig. 19 shows how such triangles may be secured together;

Fig. 20 is a side elevation of a modified form of the dome-like structure such as would be fabricated from pentagonal and hexagonal sections each formed of one piece of metal;

Fig. 21 'is a top plan view of a hexagonal section as:

embodied in the structure of Fig. 20;

Fig. 22 is a top plan view of a pentagonal section as embodied in the structure of Fig. 20;

Fig, 23 is taken substantially on the line 2323 of Fig. 20 to show the connection of the central top section or root and the side walls of the dome-shaped structure;

Fig. 24 is an end view of a clip shown in Fig. 23;

Fig. 25 is a plan view of one of the sections adapted to rest on the foundation of the Fig. 20 structure;

Fig. 26 is an outside edge view of one of the sections of the foundation;

, Fig. 26A is a top view looking down on the section shown in Fig. 26;

Fig. 27 is an end view of the section shown in Fig. 26 looking in, the direction of the arrow in Fig. 26;

' Fig. 28 is a perspective view showing the manner of connecting representative sections together by the use of my novel clips;

Fig. 29 is a side view of one of Fig. 27;

Fig. 30.is a side elevation of a dome-like structure formed of generally diamond-shaped sections;

Fig. 31 is a top plan view of a parallelogrammically shaped diamond section for use in the structure shown in Fig. 30; V

Fig. 32 is a trapezially shaped section for use in the structure of Fig. 30;

the clips shown in Fig. 33 illustrates the shape of the parallelogrammically i shaped sections for use in a double-wall dome structure of a character similar to that of Fig. 30;

Fig. 34 is a side elevation of a dome-like structure formed of trapezoidally shaped sections;

Fig. 35 is a plan view of a trapezoidally shaped section foruse in the structure shown in Fig. 34;

Fig. 36 is a side view of the section shown in Fig. 35; Fig. 37 shows a superimposed nesting relation of tri angular subsections which may be used in the construction ofda dome-shaped structure such as is shown in Fig. 5; an

Fig. 38 is an end view of the clip shown in Fig. 29.

One embodiment of the building structure disclosed in this application consists of a plurality of pentagons and a plurality of hexagons. These pentagons and hexagons are provided in such relative number and size that the same may be assembled together in a pattern of the character shown in Fig. l. The pentagons are all of equal size. The hexagons are all of equal size. These pentagons and hexagons are each preferably built up out of isosceles triangles but such is a matter of convenience in dealing with the structure. In its simple form the structure as assembled consists of a plurality of pentagonal sections and a plurality of hexagonal sections and such might be integral sections as shown in Fig. 20, and hereinafter discussed.

In order to build a dome-like structure as herein set forth, the number of pentagonal sections is to the number of hexagonal sections as three is to five. The sides of the hexagonal sections and the sides of the pentagonal sections are of equal length, but the pentagons and the hexagons are not of equal area. It is the purpose of this one embodiment of the invention to provide a structure which may be built up out of pentagons and hexagons which may be so assembled and so fastened together that a selfsupporting dome-like structure is formed. The edges of the pentagonal sections and the edges of the hexagonal sections are secured together with the sections so arranged that the structure supports itself without the employment of any supplemental or reinforcing framework.

It is necessary that the pentagons and hexagons be arranged in a determined pattern. Such a pattern is shown in Fig. 1. In this figure it will be seen that a pentagon, which is identified by numeral 20, is surrounded by five hexagons identified as 22. These hexagons 22 are secured to the sides of the pentagon 20. The pattern shown in Fig. l is designed to produce a dome-like structure of the character shown in Figs. 4 and 5. This dome-shaped structure constitutes a segment of a sphere somewhat in excess of a hemisphere.

In this particular embodiment of Figs. 1, 4, and 5, six regular pentagons, ten regular hexagons, and five regular half hexagons are used. The five half hexagons provide an even bottom margin for the dome. The dome constitutes somewhat over half a sphere. In the formation of a complete sphere, as shown in Fig. 10, twelve regular pentagons and twenty regular hexagons are employed. In these structural shapes five hexagons surround and are marginally secured to a pentagon. The two sides of each hexagon adjacent the side secured to the pentagon are secured to the corresponding sides of the two adjacent hexagons.

In this structure of Figs. 1, 4, and 5, the first series of hexagons 22 (five in number) which surround the pentagon 20 are in turn surrounded by a second series of hexagons 22a. There are five hexagons in the second series, as there are in the first series, and they are secured to the outer margins of the hexagons of the first series, all as shown in the schematic arrangement of Fig. 1. Five pentagons 20a are interposed between the hexagons of the second series and the hexagons of the first series and are secured thereto, as shown in Figs. 2, 4, and 5. To the outer edge of each pentagon 20a is secured a hexagon if a sphere is to be built up. If a domeshaped spherical segment is to be built, a half a hexagon 22b may be secured to each pentagon 20a, as shown in Fig. 1.

With the ten complete hexagons, five half hexagons and six pentagons, all shown in the pattern arrangement of Fig. 1, a dome-shaped structure such as illustrated in Figs. 2, 4, and 5 is fabricated when the edges of these hexagon and pentagon sections are secured together. In Fig. 2 the dome-shaped structure is illustrated as provided with a door 26 and a window 28. The window 28 is in the form of a triangle such as one of those which make up one of the pentagons 20a. The door itself is formed from triangular pieces arranged in such a manner as to provide a rectangular door, all as hereinafter described.

For convenience in building up the hexagons and pentagons and convenience in storage and handling thereof, such hexagonal and pentagonal sections are preferably built up out of generally planar triangular pieces or subsections. 7 Each pentagon 20 or 20a, as the case may be, is formed of five triangular subsections, as shown in Fig. 6. These triangular pieces which make up the pentagons are indicated in Fig. 6 by the numeral 23; These triangular pieces are so formed and so assembled together that the pentagon itself is generally dish-shaped or of a generally concavo-convex contour, as shown in Fig. 7. The vertices of the angles formed by the triangular subsection, when the subsection and pentagonal and hexagonal sections are assembled in dome or spherical form, lie substantially in an imaginary circumscribed spherical surface.

This dish-shaped or concavo-convex contour of the hexagons and the pentagons is desirable in order that the spherical shape may be more nearly attained. If the hexagons and the pentagons were flat the dome or spherical shape could be approximately achieved, but less completely than when they are dish-shaped. The concavo-convex shape of the hexagons and the pentagons built up out of the triangular pieces is due to the formation of the triangular pieces which make up the hexagons and the pentagons.

For example, if a flat pentagon were desired, the base angles of the triangles would each be 54 instead of 54 /2 as shown in Fig. 3, and the apex angle of each triangle would be 72 instead of 71 as shown in Fig. 3. A pentagon built up out of five triangles having base angles of 54 each would be a flat pentagon. A pentagon built up out of five triangles with base angles of 54 /2 is a concavo-convex pentagon. The sides of the triangles having 54 /2 base angles are longer than the sides of a triangle having 54 base angles and such gives the pentagon itself a dish shape.

In order for the margins of such triangles of 54 /2" included base angles to be secured together readily to form a pentagon, the marginal flanges of such triangles are bent out of the plane of the triangle at an angle greater than as, for example, 94. If a flat pentagon were being formed the marginal flanges would be bent out of the plane of the triangles at an angle of 90.

If a flat hexagon were being built up, the included angles of each triangle of the six triangles which go to make up the hexagon would be 60 each. The hexagon shown in the drawings, Figs. 8 and 9, is dish-shaped. To provide this dish shape, the six triangles which make up the hexagon are each provided with two base angles of approximately 60 /2 and an apex angle of 59. This increases the length of the sides of the triangle as compared with one having included angles of 60 each and serves to give to the hexagon built up from the triangles a crown or dish shape. Actually, a more nearly perfect arrangement for the hexagon would be to have the base angles slightly more than 60 /z each, as, for example, 60% with an apex angle of 58% When the triangles are formed as shown in Fig. 11 with the base angles each of 60 and an apex angle of 59", six such triangles are put together to form a hexagon and such hexagon will present a concavo-convex contour. As in the case of the pentagons, the triangles which make up the hexagon have marginal flanges bent out the plane of each triangle at an angle greater than 90, as, for example, 94, in order that the triangles may be marginally secured together to form the hexagon and such hexagon present a dish-shaped contour. I 7

Each hexagonal section is formed of six triangular pieces, as shown in Fig. 8. Each of these triangular pieces is indicated by numeral 30. They are so assembled together, as above described, that the hexagonal section is dish-shaped or of a concavo-convex contour, as shown in Fig. 9. Such dish-shaped contour is for the purpose of imparting a more nearly accurate spherical or domelike character to the structural shape.

. employment of fastening means, whichever is desired.

gasses The triangular pieces which make up the pentagons are congruent and the triangular pieces which make up the hexagons are congruent, with all of the triangular pieces being isosceles triangles. The isosceles triangles which make the pentagons and the triangles which make the hexagons have equal length bases. The altitude and two sides and the included angles of the isoceles-triangles which make up the pentagons differ in size from the altitude and two sides and the included angles of the isosceles triangles which make up the hexagons, all as shown in Figs. 3- and 11. form the triangular piece 28 for a pentagon is illustrated in Fig. 3. The three sides of the triangular piece 28 are provided with flanges 32 which are bent up at an angle with respect to the triangle. Such flanges 32 form angles with the plane of the triangle which angles are obtuse. Due to this obtuse angular relationship of the flanges with the plane of piece a plurality of these triangular pieces may be stacked and nested'together. Such angle may be 94", as hereinabove set forth. The triangles which make up the pentagons are similar and of the same size. A large number of them may be superimposed in nested relationship one within another.

The triangular pieces 30 which make up the hexagons are shown in Fig. 11. Each of the three sides of the triangular pieces 30 has a flanged portion 34. This flanged portion is bent up out of the plane of the triangular piece at an obtuse angle to such plane. Such angle may be 94, as shown in Fig. 11. A plurality of such'triangular pieces may therefore be superimposed and nested together.

In order to form either a pentagonal section or a hexagonal section the triangular pieces which are used to make up such sections are assembled and secured together through their flanges. In Fig. five such triangular pieces are shown as having their flanges 32 se cured together by bolts 36 to form a pentagon. In the building of the hexagon, six triangular pieces are required. They would be similarly secured together through their flanges. Instead of bolts, other securing means such as clips or the like might be employed. The outwardly flared character of the flanges on the triangles permits such pieces to be fastened together to form dish-shaped pentagonal or hexagonal sections, as shown in Figs. 7 and 9. Fastening devices similar to those used to secure the triangular pieces together to form the pentagons and hexagons may be employed to fasten the hexagonal and pentagonal sections themselves together.

The ends of the three flanges of a triangle may be fastened together to form a continuous marginal flange. This may be done by brazing, soldering, or through It is understood that in the fabrication of the triangular pieces any suitable type of sheet material may be employed, such as aluminum, steel, plastic, or any other suitable material.

As illustrated, the triangular pieces which are employed to make up the hexagons and pentagons have their marginal flanges bent outwardly of the structure. This is shown in Figs. 2 and 12. While Fig. 12 is a modification, this particular feature of outwardly bending the marginal flanges is shown therein. Such triangular pieces therefore constitute shallow pan-like pieces. When five or six triangular pieces are fastened together to form a pentagon or hexagon, as the case may be, such pentagon or hexagon constitutes a shallow pan-like section having five or six compartments. The flanges or side walls extend outwardly away from the convex side. This is a feature of importance in that these shallow pan-like receptacles may be filled with material locally available where the structure is built, such as earth or snow, and which material would serve as insulation for the wall of the structure. Such triangular pieces and pentagonal and hexagonal sections formed therefrom need not necessarily be provided with flanges for securement together.

A blank such as is used to The flanges could be omitted and margins overlapped and secured together. I

In Figs. 12, 13, and 14, a modification is shown where in the triangular pieces are so shaped as to provide for a layer of insulation. Each triangular piece shown in these three figures is itself an assembly. It is built up from two shallow triangular pan-like structures 40 having outwardly bent side walls 42 received within the opposite ends of a three-sided open ended element 44.

The triangular element 44 is formed from a blank, such as illustrated in Fig. 3. The three side wall portions 46 of this blank are so shaped and so fastened together as to form the triangular element 44 shown in Fig. 14. One side wall portion 46 is provided with a flap 48 which overlaps and is fastened to the adjacent edge of another side wall as so as to form the triangle shown in Fig. 14.

The shallow pans 40 received within the ends of the parts 44 are secured therein in any suitable manner. There is an air space between these end pans 40. Note Fig. 12.

The side wall portions 46 are so angularly disposed with respect to each other that the sides of the triangular assembly 44 lie along radii extending outwardly from the center of the dome formed of the pentagons and the hexagons built up out of such triangular pieces. Note Fig. 12.

In the fabrication of relatively large structures, it is desirable to reduce the size of the pieces which are to be handled to a convenient size. Inasmuch as the number of pentagons and hexagons remains constant the triangles which make up the pentagons and hexagons may then be broken up into smaller triangles. In Fig. 17, a triangle which might be one of the live triangles of a pentagon or one of the six triangles of a hexagon is shown as broken up into sixteen triangles. These sixteen triangles are shown in Fig. 17 schematically. Each of these triangles might be formed with marginal flanges and the marginal flanges of the triangles might be secured together as heretofore described.

Instead of securing the marginal flanges together by bolts, as shown in Fig. 15, a fillet member 50 might be interposed between the marginal flanges of the sections. As shown in Fig. 19, a bolt 52 extending through the marginal flanges and the filletmay be used. The fillet is shown in Fig. 19 as having an edge flange 54 which overhangs the edges of the flanges of the sections and seals the joints. This fillet might be made of sealing material, such as rubber or the like.

Hereinabove attention was called to the window 28 and the door 26 and the dome-shaped structure of Fig. 2.

The window 28 is illustrated as formed from one of the triangles which constitute a pentagon. It is apparent that such triangles could be so built of a window glass surrounded by a suitable triangular frame that the number of such windows might be increased as desired. The door, as shown, is built up of a series of triangular sections which may be formed out of the triangular pieces that make up the pentagons and hexagons. A floor structure is shown in Fig. 16 and this was referred to hereinabove. This floor structure is likewise illustrated as formed out of a series of triangular pieces which may be fastened together to build up a substantial circular floor which would cover the floor space within the dome-shaped structure of Fig. 2 or 5.

In Fig. 37 representative superimposed sections are shown in nested relationship. It will be noted that two of the flanges 55 extend upwardly while a third flange 55 extends downwardly. With the provision of the flanges extending in opposite directions, the sections will nest closely together and occupy a minim of space.

A modified form of the structure heretofore described is shown in Fig. 20. This structure is similar to the pattern shown in Fig. l. The structure includes pentagons surrounded by hexagons. Pentagons comprise a first group of geometrically congruent polygons 56, and

the hexagons comprise a second group of congruent polygons 58. All the polygons have edges of equal length such that each pentagon may be bounded at each edge by a hexagon. Each polygon of each group is formed of one piece of sheet metal, stamped in such fashion as to exhibit a plurality of angularly related generally planar triangular faces, with the vertices of the faces lying in an imaginary circumscribed spherical surface.

The faces comprising the pentagons are indicated at 56 in Figs. 20 and 22 and are of substantially the same angles at the vertices as the triangular subsection or piece 28 shown in Fig. 3. The faces comprising the hexagons are indicated at 58 and are of substantially the same angles at the vertices as the triangular subsection or piece 30 shown in Fig. 11. The sections are provided with outwardly extending flanges 34 which abut one another for purposes of securing the sections together to form the dome-like structure. There are 10 hexagonal sections and 6 pentagonal sections in the Fig. 20 structure.

The polygons of each group, i.e. a pentagon and hexagons, are generally dish-shaped as shown in Figs. 20-22. When the structure of Fig. 20 is disassembled into its component polygonal sections, the sections of each group may be superimposed in nested relation to conserve space for storage or transportation purposes.

In addition to the polygons above mentioned, the Fig. 20 structure also includes isosceles trapezoids having generally planar, angularly related, geometrically congruent faces 60 The trapezoidal sections are merely one-half of the hexagonal sections and the planar faces of the hexagonal and trapezoidal sections are therefore congruent. The trapezoidally shaped sections have outwardly extending flanges 61 for the purpose of easily assembling the sections in the structure.

The structure of Fig. 20 also includes a pair of generally planar isosceles triangular panels 62 which form the stiles for a door 64. It will be noted that the triangular panel 62 and the door 64 fill out one hexagonal section. This forms a natural and sturdy support for a door in this type of shelter.

If the structure of Fig. 20 is to be double-skin or double-wall structure, the inner wall will be formed of pentagonal and hexagonal sections arranged in a pattern corresponding to that of the pentagons and hexagons in the outer wall, and the flanges of the inner wall polygons will extend outwardly between abutting flanges of the outer wall polygons. However, the inner wall polygons will be flat or generally planar throughout their extent, except only for the marginal flanges, and this will provide an air space between the inner and outer walls. The inner and outer wall sections would be held together in the manner hereinafter described for the outer wall shown in Fig. 20.

The structure of Fig. 20 may also be provided with a roof section 66 of pentagonal shape, but slightly larger than the pentagonal section 66. The roof section may either be formed of one piece of sheet metal or of polygonal subsections, such as five triangular pieces 66 each having upwardly turned flanges 68 that abut when the pieces are secured together. Along the periphery of the roof a downwardly turned flange 70, as shown particularly in Fig. 23, is adapted to abut on its inner surface, the depending flanges at the top of generally S-shaped strips 72. The flanges 70 and the S-shaped strips, only one strip being shown in Fig. 23, are held together by a U-shaped clip 74 received over the flanges with a rivet, bolt, or the like 76 extended therethrough. The lower edge of each of the S-shaped strips rests upon the hexagons 58 surrounding the roof section, with an upstanding flange on the S strip abutting the upstanding flange at the margin of the hexagon and secured thereto as by an elongate clip 78 or the like similar to the clips 102 shown in Fig. 28 and hereinafter described. An

10 S-shaped strip is disposed at each edge of the pentagonal roof sections, as shown in Fig. 20, and secures the roof to the hexagonal sections. Each S-shaped strip may be perforated as shown in Fig. 23 to admit air through the strip for purposes of ventilating the structure.

A principal advantage of the Fig. 20 structure is that rain water or melting snow will not readily leak between the butting marginal flanges of the sections and drip into the interior of the structure. An inspection of the Fig. 20 structure shows that there are no flanges which prevent the water from running down the roof section 66 and onto the hexagonal sections, and running over the hexagonal sections to the lower edge thereof. As the lower edge of the hexagonal sections surrounding the roof section 66, the slope of the faces of the hexagonal sections is such that the water readily spills over the flanges without settling appreciably at the flanges to leak therebetween. The S-shaped strips '72 provide sulflcient overhang for the roof section that the water will not drip between the roof and adjacent hexagonal sections and into the interior of the structure. Windows may be provided at suitable triangular faces as shown.

The dome of Fig. 20 rests upon a novel foundation formed of end-abutting connected sections of two different kinds. One of the sections is indicated at 80 in Fig. 20 and is a generally C-shaped strip having parallel edges. The upper edge of each C-shaped section supports the outwardly extending flange of the hexagonal section as at 82 while the flange at the bottom of the C-shaped sections rests as at 84 on the ground. Opposite ends of sections 80 are provided with inturned flanges, not shown, which abut inturned end flanges $6 of the sections 88.

Sections 88 are disposed intermediate sections 8% One of such sections 88 is shown in Figs. 26, 26A and 27. A section may be formed of one piece of metal, if desired, having a base portion 96 of isosceles triangular shape, with flanges 92 'at the sides thereof bent up to meet at 94, at the apex of the base, where the flanges may be welded or otherwise secured together. Flanges 92 also have their own flanges 96 along their upper marginal edges which extend outwardly and upon which the flanges 61 at the base of the trapezoidal sections may rest. The sections 83 are also provided with the oppositely extending flanges 86 at opposite ends which may be connected as by bolts or the like to similar flanges at opposite ends of section 80. The upper edges of the sections 88 along the flanges 96 are not parallel to the plane of the triangular base 90, but rather slope downwardly toward the meeting point of flanges 92 at the line 94. This is to accommodate the lower edge or flange 61 of the trapezoidal sections. Five of each of the sections 80 and 83 are necessary in the construction of the Fig. 20 dome.

In Figs. 28-30 are shown clips for securing together the marginal flanges of the sections of all of the dome structures herein disclosed, and are in lieu of the means shown in Figs. 15 and 19. Triangular subsections or panels I30, representative of the sections to be secured together, are shown with flanges 34 in abutment. The flanges are provided with aligned apertures adjacent opposite ends and through which bolts or rivets 100 may be extended. An elongate channel-like clip N2 is associated with each bolt or rivet 1%. The clip is provided with an extension 104 through which the rivet is extended. Extension 104 may be merely an extended portion of one of the side walls of the U-shaped channel. The side walls of the channel may be tensioned toward each other to grip the abutting flanges of the sections to urge the flanges together.

Two such clips are provided for each pair of abutting flanges. In attaching each clip, the rivet or bolt is inserted through the extension 104, and then through the aligned apertures in the flanges, and then tightened, all while the clip is disposed in a position extending normal to the plane of the sections. Thereafter the clip is swung down to overlie and grip the flanges together.

In another embodiment of the invention, as shown in .Fig. 30, the structure comprises a plurality of generally dish-shaped diamond sections some of which are parallelograms and some of which are trapeziums, with such groups of polygons secured together in a definite pattern to form a dome structure. The parallelogrammically shaped sections are indicated at 106 and are shown particularly in Fig. 31. Eighteen of such sections are required to form the structure shown in Fig. 30. Sections 106 each include a pair of generally planar angularly related faces 108 which are congruent isosceles triangles whose bases meet along a crease 110 following the minor diagonal of the parallelogram. The marginal edges of each section 106 are provided with flanges 112 extending outwardly for the purpose of readily connecting together the sections comprising the structure.

The trapezially shaped sections are indicated at 114 and one is shown particularly in Fig. 32. Each of the trapezially shaped sections includes a pair of angularly related generally planar faces 116 and 118 with face 118 being congruent to the faces 108 of the Fig. 31 section and with face 116 having an altitude less than that of face 118. The bases of the triangular faces meet along the line 120 which extends along the minor diagonal of the trapezium. The trapezial section is provided with outwardly extending flanges 122 at the marginal edges to afford ready connection of the sections with other sections comprising the Fig. structure. Twenty-eight trapezially shaped sections are required for the domeshaped structure shown in Fig. 30.

In addition to the diamond-shaped sections above described, the Fig. 30 structure includes seven isosceles triangular sections 124 each provided with suitable marginal flanges for connection with adjacent sections of the structure. The triangles 124 are of the same shape as the faces 108 or 118 heretofore mentioned. The domelike structure also includes two triangular sections 126 which are of the same size and shape as the faces 116 of the trapezially shaped sections 114. A pair of panels 128 serve as door stiles for a door 130. The structure of Fig. 30 is supported upon a foundation similar to that described in connection with Fig. 20.

It will be noted from a consideration of Fig. 30 that when the parallelograms and trapeziums are connected together, their abutting marginal edges and crease lines 110 and 120 form an arrangement of pentagons and hexagons having angularly related generally planar triangular faces similar to the arrangement shown in Fig. 20. When the structure of Fig. 30 is disassembled the parallelogramrnically shaped sections may be disposed in superimposed nested relation. sections may also be superimposed in nested relation. Such nesting conserves space in the storage or transportation of a disassembled structure.

One of the prime advantages of the Fig. 30 construction is that rain water or melting snow will not readily leak between the abutting marginal flanges of the sections and drip into the interior of the structure. It will be noted from a consideration of Fig. 30 that water or melting snow will be able to run down the planar faces of the structure until reaching the points 132 and 134 before encountering a flange. Points 132 and 134 around the surface of the structure are sufficiently far down from the top of the dome that the slope of the planar faces at such points is quite steep and the flanges project outwardly in a nearly horizontal plane such that water will readily run over the flanges and will not settle appreciably at the points 132 and 134.

Planar faces 108 of the parallelograms 106, it will be noted from Fig. 30, are hexagon subsection triangles as are planar faces 118 of the trapeziums, While faces 116 of the trapeziums are pentagon triangular subsections.

The dotted lines in the Fig. 30 structure indicate the crease lines for diamond-shaped sections which comprise in inner skin or wall surface for the structure. The

crease lines for the outer wall, as above described, ex-

The trapezially shaped I 1 12 i tend along the minor diagonal of the diamend-shaped sections as at and in Figs. 31 and 32. However, the creases of the diamond-shaped sections for the inner wall lie along the major diagonal of the sections. In this way the parallelogram sections of both the inner and outer wall may be nested in oppositely dished relation as shown in Fig. 33, such that the flanges 112 and 112 lie inside and outside one another with an air space between the inner planar faces of the sections. The flanges may be held together by clips after the fashion described in connection with Figs. 28-30. The space between the inner and outer wall sections provides good insulating characteristics for the structure. The inner wall paralleogram section corresponding to the outer wall parallelogram is indicated by reference numeral 106 The crease lines for the parallelogrammically shaped inner wall sections are indicated at 110 in Fig. 30 while the crease lines for the trapezially shaped inner wall sections are indicated at 120 Still another embodiment of the invention is shown in Fig. 34 wherein the structure is formed of a plurality of polygons primarily of trapezoidal shape. The structure comprises twenty-eight trapezoidal sections 136, four paralleogrammical sections indicated in Fig. 34 at 138, and similar to those illustrated by the section shown in Fig. 31, five hexagon triangles 140, and two pentagon triangles 142. In addition the structure may include two door stile panels 144 and a door 146. In order to facilitate clarity in understanding the Fig. 34 structure, arrows extend over the three faces of each trapezoid. Each trapezoid is formed with two hexagon triangles 148 ant 150 and one pentagon triangle 152. These triangular faces are disposed in angular relation such that the trapezoidal section is generally dish-shaped or concavoconvex. The marginal edges of the trapezoidal sections are provided with flanges 154 for ready securement of the sections to adjacent sections in the structure of Fig. 34. Suitable windows or the like may be provided in the planar triangular faces as indicated at 156. The structure of Fig. 34 may rest upon a foundation similar to that described in connection with Fig. 20.

The advantages of the Fig. 34 structure resides in the fact that rain water or melting snow may run down the sides of the structure to a point lower than point 132 in Fig. 30 before having a flow over the outwardly extending abutting flanges of the sections. The highest point at which water must flow over outwardly projecting flanges is at the point 158, and it will be noted that this corre sponds with the point 134 in the Fig. 30 structure.

What I claim is:

1. A building structure comprising: a generally hemispherical wall having a plurality of angularly related isosceles triangular planar faces, said faces being of two different kinds with bases of equal length but altitudes of two diiferent lengths, and said faces arranged insymmetrical patterns of regular pentagons each surrounded by regular hexagons.

2. The invention as defined in claim numbered 1 characterized in that each of said planar triangular faces is an individual panel and the individual panels are secured together at their marginal edges.

3. A building structure comprising: a generally hemispherical wall formed of a plurality of generally dish- -shaped pentagonal sections surrounded by and margin ally connected to a plurality of generally dish-shaped hexagonal sections, said pentagonal sections having five angularly related integral congruent triangular faces, said hexagonal sections having six integral congruent angularly related triangular faces, said triangular faces having bases of equal length but altitudes of two diiferent lengths.

4. A building structure comprising: a generally hemispherical wall having a plurality of angularly related isosceles triangular planar faces, said faces being of two different kinds with bases of equal length but altitudes of two different lengths, said faces arranged in sym- 13 metrical patterns of regular pentagons each surrounded by regular hexagons, said faces being grouped in integral pairs forming individual generally dish-shaped sections, certain of the sections having congruent triangular faces meeting at their bases such that the sections are parallelogrammically dish-shaped, the remaining sections having triangular faces meeting at their bases and the altitudes of the two triangular faces of two different lengths such that the sections are generally trapezially shaped, and said sections being secured together at their marginal edges.

5. A building structure comprising: a generally hemispherical wall having a plurality of angularly related isosceles triangular planar faces, said faces being of two different kinds with bases of equal length but altitudes of two different lengths, said faces arranged in symmetrical patterns of regular pentagons each surrounded by regular hexagons, said planar faces being grouped in 3s with two planar faces of one kind and one planar face of another kind and with the three faces being integral and forming generally dish-shaped congruent generally trapezoidally shaped sections, and said sections being secured together at their marginal edges.

6. A building structure wall comprising: a plurality of generally dish-shaped pentagonal sections bounded at each edge by a generally dish-shaped hexagonal section, said section being dished outwardly and connected to gether, said pentagonal sections each composed of geometrically congruent triangular subsections provided at the edges with laterally extending flanges such that when assembled in pentagonal relation the flanges along similar edges abut one another and when disassembled the subsections may be superimposed in nested relation, said hexagonal sections each composed of geometrically congruent triangular subsections each provided at the edges with laterally extending flanges such that When assembled in hexagonal relation the flanges along similar edges abut one another and the vertices of the subsections lie substantially in a circumscribed sphere and when disassembled the subsections may be superimposed in nested relation, securing means holding the sections and subsections together at the flanges, and the triangular subsections of the pentagonal sections having bases of a length equal to the length of the bases of the subsections comprising the hexagonal sections but with the altitude of the pentagonal subsections being of a different length than the altitude of the hexagonal subsections.

7. The invention as claimed in claim numbered 6 characterized in that said subsections are generally planar and the vertices of the subsections when assembled in the pentagonal and hexagonal arrangement lie substantially in a circumscribed spherical surface.

8. A building structure comprising a plurality of pentagonal sections and a plurality of hexagonal sections the sides of which sections are of equal length, said sections being arranged in a pattern with each pentagonal section bounded by hexagonal sections, the pentagonal sections being each formed of five similar triangular pieces fastened together to form the section, the hexagonal sections being each formed of six similar triangular pieces fastened together to form the section, and the vertices of said triangular pieces lying substantially in a circumscribed sphere.

9. A building structure of the character defined in claim numbered 8 characterized in that the triangular pieces have marginal flanges bent out of the plane thereof at an obtuse angle thereto whereby said triangular sections may be superimposed in nested relationship, and the triangular pieces of the hexagonal sections have marginal flanges bent out of the plane thereof at an obtuse angle thereto whereby said triangular pieces may be superimposed in nested relationship.

10. A double-wall structure comprising: an outer and an inner generally hemispherical pair of walls disposed in superimposed relation and each having a plurality of angularly related isosceles triangular planar faces, said faces being of two diflerent kinds with bases of equal length but altitudes of two diflerent lengths, the faces of each wall arranged in symmetrical patterns of regular pentagons each surrounded by regular hexagons, and similar planar faces of the superimposed walls being disposed opposite one another and spaced apart to provide air spaces between the walls at such faces.

11. The invention as defined in claim numbered 10 characterized in that each pair of oppositely disposed faces of the inner and outer walls form opposite ends of individual cells with side walls of the cells extending between the marginal edges of the faces and spacing the faces apart. 5

12. A building structure comprising: an outer and an inner generally hemispherical pair of walls disposed in superimposed relation and each having a plurality of angularly related isosceles triangular planar faces, said faces of each wall being of two different kinds with bases of equal length but altitudes of two different lengths, said faces of each wall arranged in symmetrical patterns of regular pentagons each surrounded by regular hexagons, said faces of each wall being grouped in integral pairs forming individual generally dish-shaped sections, certain of the sections of each wall having congruent triangular faces meeting at their bases such that the sections are parallelogrammically shaped, the remaining sections of each wall having triangular faces meeting at their bases and the altitudes of the two triangular faces of two different lengths such that the sections are generally trapezially shaped, similar sections of the superimposed walls being disposed opposite one another with the meetiug line of the bases of the triangular faces of the sections comprising the outer wall lying along the minor diagonal of the sections and with the meeting lines of the bases of the triangular faces of the sections comprising the inner wall lying along the major diagonals of the sections and with opposite sections dished in opposite directions to provide air pockets therebetween, and all of said sections being secured together at their marginal edges.

13. The invention as defined in claim numbered 12 characterized in that each section is provided at the marginal edges with outwardly projecting flanges with the flanges of the inner wall section overlying the flanges of the outer wall section, and with the flanges of adjacent sections of each wall abutting, and with securing means extended through the flanges to secure the sections together at their marginal edges.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 185,889 Boorman Jan. 2, 1877 1,977,391 Kramer Oct. 16, 1934 2,394,702 Lindsay Feb. 12, 1946 2,405,643 Crot Aug. 13, 1946 2,505,343 Stolz Apr. 25, 1950 2,549,189 Gabo Apr. 17, 1951 2,682,235 Fuller June 29, 1954 2,715,953 Marrow Aug. 23, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 405,398 France 1909 123,866 The Netherlands Dec. 15, 1948 OTHER REFERENCES Ser. No. 335,199, Behin (A.P.'C.), published May 18, 1943. at 

